THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 - THE MESSIAH

 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023 - THE MESSIAH 

Every year, I listen to George Fredrick Handel’s Messiah Oratorio.  I’ve sung in the choir and played in the orchestra for the work.  

I know many of the sections from their Biblical context.  Many Christian Churches, in their Advent readings, hit the musical parts.

Last week, it was from Isaiah - “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low.”  

Soon, we’ll have “For unto us a child (son) is born.” “He shall purify,” “And, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed”, 

The oratorio has 53 sections - with chorus - and soloists.

Handel was born in Germany but accepted in England (with George I - the German prince who became the King of England.).  He wrote operas in the Italian style - but they were expensive, and operas written by a German-Englishman, compared to operas written by Italians, weren’t quite as popular.

“Handel composed Messiah in an astounding interlude, somewhere between three and four weeks in August and September 1741. "He would literally write from morning to night." according to a Handel scholar.  

“George Frideric Handel's Messiah was originally an Easter offering. It burst onto the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742. The audience swelled to a record 700, as ladies had heeded pleas by management to wear dresses "without Hoops" to make "Room for more company." Handel's superstar status was not the only draw; many also came to glimpse the contralto, Susannah Cibber embroiled in a scandalous divorce.

“The men and women in attendance sat mesmerized from the moment the tenor followed the mournful string overture with his piercing opening line: "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God." Soloists alternated with wave upon wave of chorus until, near the midway point, Cibber intoned: "He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."  (The audience seemingly forgave Cibber for her divorce over this solo).

“Dublin was one of Europe's fastest-growing, most prosperous cities, with a wealthy elite eager to display its sophistication and the economic clout to stage a major cultural event. "So it was a great advantage for Handel to make the voyage to Dublin to try out his new work and then bring it back to London," says Keates, comparing the composer to Broadway producers who tried out plays in New Haven before staging them in New York City.” (Smithsonian Magazine)

The music is very appropriate.  Generally viewed as two parts - a Christmas Section (“For unto us a child is born”) and an Easter section (Worthy is the lamb who was slain”).  I prefer the Christmas section, and seemingly most people do—performances peak in December by professional groups, churches, and community groups.

My first performance of the Messiah was unplanned.  I sang in the choir and played in the band in high school.  In college, I decided to focus on the band.  My roommate was a music major and did both choir and band.  There were three colleges in WInona, Minnesota: Saint Mary’s College, the College of Saint Teresa, and Winona State College.  All three colleges were to perform the oratorio on a Sunday afternoon in December. My roommate talked me into singing (“Nobody will recognize that you aren’t a choir memory”).  And so it was.

I showed up at the rehearsal, and the choir director at Winona State saw me - blinked twice - and didn’t say anything.  (I had played in a brass quintet with the choir, so he knew me).  

Rehearsal went well, and the performance, too!!

Some sample choruses:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace

(Isaiah 9:5)

“King of Kings and Lord of Lord,” “And he shall reign forever (and ever).”

*****

The story is that the King of England, upon hearing the Hallelujah Chorus, stood up, and that is a common practice today.

Over the years, I have come to appreciate the Messiah Oratorio.  In this Christmas season, I hope you can enjoy the Messiah as well.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, DECEMBER 14, 2023